<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF NOVEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 1996 FOR SUBURBAN OSTOMY SUPPLY COMPANY INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> SEP-1-1996 <PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1996 <CASH> 7,113,532 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 8,210,987 <ALLOWANCES> 427,000 <INVENTORY> 7,184,128 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 23,052,858 <PP&E> 2,049,022 <DEPRECIATION> 1,000,835 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 37,254,970 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 8,331,213 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 46,177,324 <OTHER-SE> (17,337,926) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 37,254,970 <SALES> 21,962,844 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 21,962,844 <CGS> 16,844,477 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,797,105 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 239,485 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 414,852 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,740,654 <INCOME-TAX> 769,431 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 971,223 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.11 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.11